| Today's Top Stories | | #1 | PHD Retains $100 Million Porsche Global Media Account
| | | The Omnicom Media Group agency has defended its media business with the German automaker in a review that also included WPP's MediaCom. PHD initially won the media account in 2010.
Why This Matters: Defending an account always brings relief and validation to an agency—especially when it's a sizable one like this. A few months back, PHD retained U.S. media planning and buying for GlaxoSmithKline following a review, and last year it was awarded the global communications planning account for ad giant Unilever.
A Take: MediaPost
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| | #2 | 'New York Times' Publisher Lays Out Plans For Native Advertising
| | | Arthur Sulzberger Jr. in a memo to staffers said the paid content ad units, scheduled to begin appearing on the Times' online home page and section front pages in January, will be wrapped in a "distinctive color bar with the word 'Paid Post,' the relevant company logo, a different typeface and other design cues to let readers know exactly what they are looking at."
Why This Matters: Sulzberger acknowledged that this type of advertising "can be controversial" but said it is necessary to help "restore digital advertising revenue growth."
Two Takes: Ad Age | NYT |
| | #3 | Want to Double the Odds Your Online Display Ad is Seen? Put On a Happy Face
| | | New research from Web-tracking software company Sticky, which uses webcams to track users' eye movements to determine how they are viewing ads finds that display ads that contain either a human or animal face double the likelihood of an ad being seen, MediaPost reports. The research also finds, not surprisingly, that the larger the ad, the greater likelihood it will be seen and also the longer it will be looked at.
Why This Matters: The research can be helpful to agencies creating Web ads. However, even following these tips will not guarantee a huge rush by users to look at ads. The research finds even when the ads are seen, it's only for 22% of the time they appear in-screen.
A Take: MediaPost |
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#4 Draft FCB Acquires London Ad Agency Inferno (Ad Age)
#5 Agency Creative Director Starts Unique eCommerce Site (Digiday)
#6 Online Holiday Sales Get Major Boost From Mobile (eMarketer)
#7 Attribution Across Platforms Still Problematic (eMarketer)
#8 Questus Exec Touts The Importance Of The Agency Retainer (Ad Age)
#9 Social Media Savvy Luxury Brands Booming In Popularity (LAT)
#10 Arnold Awarded Pur Water Filters Creative Account (Adweek)
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Percentage increase in product listing ads during fourth-quarter 2013, compared to the same quarter in 2012, according to Rimm-Kaufman Group, who says the image-based text ads prompt quicker clicks from consumers and attract more spending by advertisers.
– Reported by MediaPost
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| | MBPT Spotlight | Among This Year's Primetime Holiday Classics, Only a Certain Red-Nosed Reindeer Kept Its Luster
By John Consoli
While Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was a bright light again this holiday season for TV viewers, most of the other reliable animated Christmas classics that the broadcast networks aired late November and into December so far have recorded hefty declines in both viewers and in the 18-49 demo compared to last year.
Media agency Carat did an analysis of the network's holiday specials and found that Rudolph on CBS and Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC were the only animated series to increase their viewers and 18-49 demo rating. Rudolph was by far the most-watched, drawing 11.3 million viewers, up from 10.1 last year, and a 3.0 18-49 rating, up 5.6%. Among adults 25-54, Rudolph was up 11.4% to a 4.1. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town drew 5.8 million viewers, up 3.4%, but its demo rating dropped from a 1.7 to a 1.6.
One of the newest animated kids' Christmas shows, Elf on a Shelf (CBS), which first aired in 2011, saw its viewership drop 53.5% to 2.8 million, and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW), which first aired in 2000, drew only 1.1 million viewers, down 27.9%.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer first aired in 1964, while Santa Claus is Coming to Town was first broadcast in 1970.
Other specials posted similar results. Frosty The Snowman (CBS), which first aired in 1969, was down just 0.8% in viewers, drawing 6.7 million, but it was down 13.3% in the 18-49 demo, which meant fewer parents were watching with their kids. And the newer spinoff animated version, Frosty Returns (CBS), which was first broadcast in 1992, declined 28.9% in viewers to 4.1 million and 32.3% in the 18-49 demo to a 1.1.
What were the numbers posted by A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas? And why do some believe Rudolph was the lone success this year?
For more, click HERE
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| | Fates & Fortunes | • PETER SHERMAN was promoted to CEO of JWT North America. He was most recently CEO of JWT New York. Sherman replaces David Eastman who is leaving the company. Sherman joined JWT four months ago from BBDO, where he was executive VP and managing director of BBDO Europe. Also, CLAIRE CAPECI, most recently global business director at JWT New York, was promoted to managing director of the New York office. In addition to her new role, Capeci will continue to head up the agency's Macy's and Energizer accounts.
• RON BESS is stepping down as Havas Worldwide chief operating officer and as president of Havas North America. Havas global president Andrew Benett will assume oversight of the agency's North America operations.
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| | What They're Watching | BROADCAST RATINGS
'X Factor' Finale Down 45% From Last Year
The X Factor's season three finale dropped 45% from the season two finale, but it earned enough to carry Fox to the highest rating among broadcast networks. CBS' repeats tied with ABC and NBC for second. ABC aired A Charlie Brown Christmas. The ABC News special The Year 2013 was down two tenths from last year's end-of-year special. NBC's The Sing-Off dropped 25% from the previous night and 14% from last Thursday's episode. The CW aired repeats.
For more, click HERE
CABLE RATINGS
'The Big Bang Theory' Tops Wednesday Night Lineup
TBS' 10:30 and 10 p.m. airings of The Big Bang Theory took the top two spots on Wednesday, earning an adults 18-49 demo rating of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively, and overall viewership of 3.1 million for both time slots. ESPN's NBA regular season coverage came in third, garnering a 1.2 in the demo and 2.8 million viewers.
For more, click HERE
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| Overnight Ratings: Thursday, December 19
| | 8 PM | | NET | SHOW | A18-49
Rating | TOTAL VIEWERS
(MILLIONS) | CBS
| THE BIG BANG THEORY (R) (8:00)
THE MILLERS (R) (8:30)
| 2.8
1.7
| 11.1
7.6
| ABC
| A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS
| 1.7
| 6.5
| FOX
| THE X FACTOR
| 1.5
| 5.8
| NBC
| THE SING-OFF
| 1.2
| 4.4
| UNIVISION
| POR SIEMPRE MI AMOR
| 1.1
| 2.9
| CW
| THE VAMPIRE DIARIES (R)
| 0.2
| 0.8
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| | 9 PM | | NET | SHOW | A18-49
Rating | TOTAL VIEWERS
(MILLIONS) | FOX
| THE X FACTOR
| 1.8
| 6.6
| NBC
| SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (R)
| 1.6
| 4.5
| ABC
| THE YEAR
| 1.4
| 5.7
| CBS
| THE CRAZY ONES (R) (9:00)
TWO AND A HALF MEN (R) (9:30)
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1.3
1.3
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5.7
5.6
| UNIVISION
| LO QUE LA VIDA ME ROBÓ
| 1.2
| 2.9
| CW
| REIGN (R)
| 0.3
| 0.9
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| | 10 PM | | NET | SHOW | A18-49
Rating | TOTAL VIEWERS
(MILLIONS) | NBC
| SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (R)
| 1.7
| 4.1
| ABC
| THE YEAR
| 1.4
| 5.7
| CBS
| ELEMENTARY (R)
| 0.9
| 5.6
| UNIVISION
| MENTIR PARA VIVIR
| 0.9
| 2.4
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| | THIS WEEKEND'S BIG RATINGS STORIES TODAY | • 'It's A Wonderful Life' Should Earn NBC Wings on Friday
The broadcast networks rarely air theatrical movies these days and when they do, many of them are around Christmastime. NBC has the rights to 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, the Jimmy Stewart redemption classic that has been running around the holidays since 1994. NBC has been airing the popular film on Christmas Eve and usually one other night in December. This year's first telecast was scheduled for last Saturday but NBC preempted it to run a taped repeat of its original live Sound of Music special. So the network will air It's a Wonderful Life on Friday night at 8 p.m. and again on Christmas Eve night (next Tuesday) at 8. The upshot: Last Christmas Eve, It's a Wonderful Life drew 5.6 million viewers and a 1.5 18-49 demo rating. That was up 16% in viewers and even in the demo over its 2011 telecast. A movie that is 67 years old is clearly going to draw an older audience, but those are the folks who are home on Friday nights, although many may be out shopping. Still, the movie should draw about 5 million.
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| • Bears vs. Eagles Gives NBC a Nice Playoff-Implication Game
The Chicago Bears travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in a Sunday Night Football game beginning at 8:30. on NBC. The contest has major playoff implications for both teams. Despite their mediocre records of 8-6, each team leads its respective division and needs a win to stay on top with only two games left. The losing team on Sunday night could find itself moving out of the picture. The upshot: Expect a big tune-in for this game with both teams representing major market cities. Sunday Night Football has averaged 21.6 million viewers and an 8.0 18-49 demo rating, making it the most watched primetime program on television this fall.
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| • Hey, Peanuts Here! ABC Offers Up More Charlie Brown Saturday
ABC hopes to reverse this year's downward ratings trend for animated Christmas specials on Saturday night at 8 with I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown. This made-for-TV special first aired on ABC in November 2003. The story focuses on Linus and Lucy Van Pelt's younger brother Rerun, who wants his own dog and ends up adopting Snoopy's brother, Spike, who is visiting during the holiday season. The upshot: ABC aired the special last year during the same week on a Thursday night and drew 5 million viewers and a 1.4 18-49 demo rating. Again, with Christmas specials, particularly on the last Saturday night before Christmas, many families may be out shopping or doing other pre-holiday chores instead of staying home to watch. Still, matching last year's audience of 5 million is a possibility.
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| Media Buyer & Planner Today
Editorial Team
John Consoli, Contributing Editor
Phone: 201-314-0424 | Send Email
Jon Lafayette, Business Editor, Broadcasting & Cable
Phone: 917-281-4735 | Send Email
Brian Moran, Managing Editor, Broadcasting & Cable
Phone: 917-281-4708 | Send Email
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